Takeaways from Atlanta's series-clinching victory over the Seattle Mariners

Atlanta won the Mariners series with a hard-fought victory over Seattle 3-2 on Sunday afternoon. Here's what you need to know from the contest:

Jared Shuster has figured out how to be successful at the MLB level

Our own Jake Mastroianni talked about this last week: Jared Shuster had to cut down the walks and attack the zone.

Jared Shuster apparently reads Braves Today.

The lefty went six innings for Atlanta on Sunday, allowing one hit and one run (on a solo shot by Jarred Kelenic) while striking out seven and, more importantly, walking only one batter. It was his first career win in MLB.

It was good to see Shuster trust his stuff - he got fourteen swings and misses across the outing, with the slider and changeup both coming in above 30% Whiff, and finished with a CSW% (Called Strikes + Whiffs) of 28%.

He attacked the zone with the slider, throwing it for a strike 62% of the time, while working the edges with the fastball and keeping the changeup down. It was fantastic growth from the lefty that Atlanta needed to see, given all the injuries to Atlanta's rotation and the need for a 4h and 5th starter.

Travis d'Arnaud had a good day

Box score's going to tell you that Travis d'Arnaud had a bad day, with the Mariners stealing three bases off of him (all by 2B Jose Caballero).

(Here's a secret: Most stolen bases are taken off of the pitcher, not the catcher.)

But what he DID do was register two hard-hit balls, including his first home run (a d'Arnaud d'Ong, if you will) since coming off the injured list, as well as guide Shuster through the best outing of the young lefty's career. Atlanta's in a remarkable place where they have two starting caliber catchers who can both impact the game from behind the plate and with the bat.

Common sense would tell you that one would catch and the other would DH every day, right?

Marcell Ozuna is the DH for the foreseeable future

Ozuna, who has been widely criticized for, like, five different reasons, has completely reversed course after his dreadful start to 2023.

In the month of May (entering today), Ozuna was batting .333/.414/.706 with six homerus and fifteen RBIs. He'd raised his season slash line from a paltry .071/.212/.286 on April 10th to .200/.296/.436 as of this morning.

Ozuna went 1-3 against the Mariners, with a single and a 2nd hard-hit ball, a 95.6 mph grounder in the 4th. He has been hitting the ball hard all year, and now that the BABIP luck is starting to swing back his way, Atlanta's lineup is even deeper when you've got a power threat with a hot bat lurking in the seven hole.

Michael Harris continues to struggle at the plate

Last year's NL Rookie of the Year has had a weird season. Missing time early in April with a back injury means he's been unable to get into a comfortable rhythm at the plate. Batting .177/.261/.266 on the season, Harris went 0-3 today and was 0-10 for the series.

Atlanta's lineup is configured to crush lefties, and Harris's history of hitting well against righties (.323/.363/.580 in 2022) is an important counterbalance to the lineup's strengths.

Without Harris being able to get it going at the plate, it's a lower margin for error for this offense, and hinders the overall run production potential when Ronald Acuña Jr comes up to bat later in games with no one on in front of him.

Just a reminder that MLB's pitch clock is awesome

This game was two hours and five minutes. Long live the pitch clock.

What's next for the Atlanta Braves?

Atlanta opens the series against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow night - first pitch is at 7:20 PM ET, with RHP Charlie Morton matching up against prospect RHP Gavin Stone. The game broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports South, and is available on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.

Stories from the Seattle Mariners Series
BREAKING: Charlie Clutch is BACK!
Lineup, how to watch Atlanta's series opener with the Seattle Mariners
Takeaways: Braves Bats With Another Late Comeback
Lineup, how to watch Atlanta's Saturday game two versus the Seattle Mariners
WATCH: Matt Olson launches a home run to give the Braves a 2-0 lead in the first
Takeaways: Braves lose 7-3 to the Mariners
Lineup, how to watch the Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners decide the series on Sunday afternoon
WATCH: Atlanta strikes early as Ronald Acuña singles and Matt Olson doubles him in
WATCH: Eddie Rosario flips a changeup into centerfield to give Atlanta the lead
WATCH: Travis d'Arnaud LAUNCHES a ball to extend Atlanta's lead

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise from FOCO